Hinged extension for rain-pipe downspouts

ABSTRACT

A hinged connection is provided for downspout extensions for directing rainwater away from the foundation of a structure. The hinged connection enables the extension to be selectively pivoted to provide clearance for routine yard work, such as mowing the lawn.

United States Patent [191 Johnson Jan. 21, 1975 HINGED EXTENSION FOR RAIN-PIPE DOWNSPOUTS Paul J. Johnson, 2100 Marine Plaza, Wauwatosa, Wis. 53202 Filed: May 1, 1974 Appl. N0.: 466,017

Inventor:

US. Cl 137/615, 285/184, 403/120 Int. Cl. F161 27/00 Field of Search 285/184, 185,283; 16/180, 16/158,128 R;137/615;403/91,102,120,157

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS- 2/1872 Hamilton 285/283 X 3/1923 Ward 285/283 2,100,058 11/1937 McGrady 7. 285/283 X 2,125,762 8/1938 Wheeler 285/283 UX 2,975,805 3/1961 Horn 285/154 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 17,004 12/1929 Australia 16/180 Primary ExmnincrAndrcw V. Kundrat Attorney, Agent. or Firm-John C. Cooper, 11]; Fred Wiviott; Ralph G. Hohenfcldt [57] ABSTRACT A hinged connection is provided for downspout extensions for directing rainwater away from the foundation of a structure. The hinged connection enables the extension to be selectively pivoted to provide clearance for routine yard work, such as mowing the lawn.

7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures HINGED EXTENSION FOR RAIN-PIPE DOWNSPOUTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventional downspouts for rain gutters on houses and other building structures are often provided with an extension pipe for directing rainwater away from the foundation of a building. Such extensions are generally affixed to an elbow attached to the lower end of a downspout. The extensions generally comprise a sheet metal pipe having a cross-section similar to the downspout and elbow and which slidably engages the downspout elbow. The disadvantage of such pipe extensions is that they often obstruct the yard area surrounding the building. Thus, they may interfere with such routine tasks as mowing any lawn area near them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an improved extension for rainpipes and downspouts which may be selectively disengaged by means of a hinged connection.

Other more specific objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of a preferred embodiment which follows.

In general, the invention comprises a hinge connection for downspout extensions which may be attached between a conventional downspout elbow and an extension pipe and which enables the extension to be pivoted out of engagement with the downspout elbow.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a hinged pipe extension for a downspout according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along 2-2 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 depicts an alternate embodiment of the invention in a view similar to that of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIGS. 1 and 2 show a hinged extension pipe constructed according to the invention. A hinge assembly is provided which joins an elbow 12 of a conventional downspout 13 to an extension pipe 15. Downspout 13 may extend downwardly from a rain gutter (not shown) and may be supported in a conventional manner adjacent building 14. Elbow 12 may be slidably mounted on the lower extremity of downspout 13 in a conventional manner. The hinge assembly 10 generally comprises a pair of U-shaped bracket members 20 and 21 which are attached to elbow l2 and extension 15, respectively. The bracket members 20 and 21 may be constructed of any suitable material such as sheet metal and are formed so that their interior surfaces conform to the peripheral dimensions of the sides and bottoms of the elbow l2 and extension pipe 15. The bracket members 20 and 21 may be attached to elbow 12 and extension 15 in any suitable manner such as by sheet metal screws 23.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the bracket members and 21 each have a pair of ear portions 24 formed at the upper ends of the legs of each U. The ears 24 extend longitudinally in a direction parallel to the central axis of extension pipe 15 toward the opposite bracket member 20 or 21. The ears 24 of bracket 21 may be formed generally parallel to the sides of bracket 21, while the ears 24 of bracket 20 are deflected inwardly to be received by the cars 24 of bracket 21. A hinge pin 25 is provided which extends through aligned apertures 26 and 27 formed in the ears 24 of brackets 20 and 21, respectively. Pin 25 may comprise a conventional threaded bolt retained by lock nut 25A. A spacer sleeve 27 may be provided on pin 25 between the ears 24 of bracket 20. As seen in FIG. 1, brackets 20 and 21 may be positioned on elbow 12 and extension pipe 15 so that extension pipe 15 slightly overlaps the end of elbow 12 which may be formed to fit snugly within extension 15 in a conventional manner.

As seen in FIG. 1, hinge assembly 10 enables extension pipe 15 to be pivotally raised to a position indicated by phantom lines 15A whereby the end of extension 15 may be placed in contact with the upper portion of downspout 13. A spring catch 28 may be affixed to downspout 13 by a conventional sheet metal screw 29 or other suitable means. In its raised position, extension 15 will engage spring 28 which frictionally engages the end of extension 15 to retain it in a raised condition. Spring 28 is positioned so that extension 15 may be manually disengaged with little physical effort.

Referring to FIG. 3, an alternate embodiment is shown in which a torsion spring 30 may be positioned between the ears 24' of brackets 20' and 21' and may be wound around hinge pin 25' and spacer 27. One ear 24 of bracket 20 may have a generally U-shaped portion 32 formed in its upper extremity and bent over and downwardly toward the upper surface of elbow 12'. One end 33 of torsion spring 30 may be positioned to be engaged within the portion 32. A similarly U-shaped bent portion 35 may be formed in the diagonally opposite ear 24' of bracket member 21' for engaging the opposite end 36 of torsion spring 30. The torsion spring 30 may be wound on hinge pin 25' so that ends 33 and 36 are biased into engagement with portions 32 nd 35 of bracket members 20 and 21' and the spring bias will also tend to pivot bracket 21' about hinge pin 20' in an upwardly direction. The spring bias may be calculated to be of insufficient force to pivot bracket member 21' when the extension pipe 15 is in a generally horizontally extending position, however, when extension 15 is raised upwardly to pivot the extension 15' and bracket 21' out of engagement with elbow 12', the spring force will be sufficient to maintain extension 15' in a generally upwardly extending direction similar to that shown in the phantom view of FIG. 1. This embodiment would eliminate spring catch 28 shown in FIG. 1.

From the foregoing description, it will thus be apparent that in normal usage, the extension pipe 15 will be maintained in its lowered position in engagement with the end of elbow 12 for directing rainwater from downspout 13 through elbow 12 and out extension pipe 15 away from the building 14. On occasion, when it is desired to perform routine yard work such as mowing the lawn in the vicinity of extension pipe 15, the extension 15 may be raised manually to a point where the extension 15 engages spring 28 to maintain extension 15 in an upraised condition thereby clearing the surrounding yard space formerly occupied by the extension pipe 15. Alternatively, torsion spring 30 may be provided for maintaining extension 15 in an upraised position.

While two embodiments of the invention have thus been described, such descriptions are intended to be illustrative rather than limiting, for the invention may be variously embodied. A generally square extension pipe has been depicted, but it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the hinge assembly may be constructed to conform to various pipe shapes. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be taken solely from an interpretation of the claims which follow.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for pivotally joining a rainpipe downspout to an extension pipe, said apparatus comprising:

hinge means coupled to said downspout and said extension pipe for enabling said extension pipe to be pivoted between a first position in which said extension sealingly engages said downspout and a second position in which said extension extends generally transverse to said first position, said hinge means comprising first and second bracket means coupled to said downspout and extension respectively and a hinge pin pivotally joining said first and second bracket means,

each of said first and second bracket means having a generally U-shaped configuration receiving said downspout and extension therein, respectively, the sides of each said bracket means having exposed portions extending beyond the periphery of said downspout and extension, and

said hinge pin extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said extension pipe and coupled to the exposed portions of said bracket sides.

2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 including:

catch means coupled to said downspout for releas ably engaging said extension in said second position.

3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein in said second position said extension extends upwardly in general parallelism with said donwspout.

4. Apparatus for pivotally joining a rainpipe downspout to an extension pipe, said apparatus comprising:

hinge means coupled to said downspout and said extension pipe for enabling said extension pipe to be pivoted between a first position in which said extension sealingly engages said downspout and a second position in which said extension extends generally transverse to said first portion, said hinge means comprising first and second generally U- shaped bracket means embracing said downspout and extension respectively and a hinge pin pivotally joining said first and second bracket means. and

torsion spring means coupled to said hinge means for biasing said extension toward said second position. said spring having one end coupled to said first bracket means and its other end coupled to said second bracket means.

5. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein in said second position said extension extends upwardly in general parallelism with said downspout.

6. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein:

each of said first and second bracket means having a generally U-shaped configuration for receivably engaging said downspout and extension respectively, the sides of each said bracket means having exposed portions extending beyond the periphery of said downspout and extension, and

said hinge pin extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said extension pipe and couples the exposed portions of said bracket sides.

7. The apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein:

said spring means being in surrounding engagement with said hinge pin and having one end coupled to one side of said first bracket and its other end coupled to the diagonally opposite side of said second bracket, each of said bracket means including means for receiving the ends of said spring means.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF- CORRECTION Patent No. 3,861,419 Dated January 21, 1975 Inventor Paul J- JOImSOn It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Correct address of the patentee is:

Paul J. Johnson 8317 Chestnut Street Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53213 Signed and sealed this 1st day of April 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

' C. MARSHALL DANN RUTH C. MASON Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer and Trademarks FORM PC4050 (10-69) -pc uog'yg-poo 

1. Apparatus for pivotally joining a rainpipe downspout to an extension pipe, said apparatus comprising: hinge means coupled to said downspout and said extension pipe for enabling said exTension pipe to be pivoted between a first position in which said extension sealingly engages said downspout and a second position in which said extension extends generally transverse to said first position, said hinge means comprising first and second bracket means coupled to said downspout and extension respectively and a hinge pin pivotally joining said first and second bracket means, each of said first and second bracket means having a generally U-shaped configuration receiving said downspout and extension therein, respectively, the sides of each said bracket means having exposed portions extending beyond the periphery of said downspout and extension, and said hinge pin extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said extension pipe and coupled to the exposed portions of said bracket sides.
 2. The apparatus set forth in claim 1 including: catch means coupled to said downspout for releasably engaging said extension in said second position.
 3. The apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein in said second position said extension extends upwardly in general parallelism with said donwspout.
 4. Apparatus for pivotally joining a rainpipe downspout to an extension pipe, said apparatus comprising: hinge means coupled to said downspout and said extension pipe for enabling said extension pipe to be pivoted between a first position in which said extension sealingly engages said downspout and a second position in which said extension extends generally transverse to said first portion, said hinge means comprising first and second generally U-shaped bracket means embracing said downspout and extension respectively and a hinge pin pivotally joining said first and second bracket means, and torsion spring means coupled to said hinge means for biasing said extension toward said second position, said spring having one end coupled to said first bracket means and its other end coupled to said second bracket means.
 5. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein in said second position said extension extends upwardly in general parallelism with said downspout.
 6. The apparatus set forth in claim 4 wherein: each of said first and second bracket means having a generally U-shaped configuration for receivably engaging said downspout and extension respectively, the sides of each said bracket means having exposed portions extending beyond the periphery of said downspout and extension, and said hinge pin extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said extension pipe and couples the exposed portions of said bracket sides.
 7. The apparatus set forth in claim 6 wherein: said spring means being in surrounding engagement with said hinge pin and having one end coupled to one side of said first bracket and its other end coupled to the diagonally opposite side of said second bracket, each of said bracket means including means for receiving the ends of said spring means. 